Beyachad Jewish Occupational Therapy Network

Breaking Through Barriers: Jewish & Israeli OTs in Action

Free, Virtual, 1.5 live CEUs

March 15, 2026 1:00-2:30pm EST

Los Angeles 10:00am

New York 1:00pm

London 6:00pm

Israel 8:00pm (20:00)

Johannesburg 8:00pm

Sydney 5:00am (date: 16/3)

Israeli OTs and Jewish OTs around the world, including our presenters and many of us, continue to work through challenging circumstances in the shadow of October 7. For many, the professional landscape has changed dramatically. Increasingly hostile academic spaces, ideological creep in academic and professional millieus, and the threat of boycotts and harassment, are all part of a new reality for Israeli and Jewish health professionals. Now, more than ever, let's come together to support and amplify each other as presenters discuss their research, publications, and challenges they've faced.

We are very excited to have OTs from Israel, Canada, Britain, and the US sharing experiences with us.

Our program includes:

Opening Remarks: Jeffrey Rothman, occupational therapist & founder of Martial Arts for the Soul, a non-profit teaching Jews self defense using martial arts techniques

Research Spotlight: Beyond Training: Work Skills Development and Quality of Life Outcomes in Autistic Young Adults Through Military Service Integration & Self-identity in times of collective trauma: a comparison between autistic and non-autistic college students: Asnat Bar Haim Erez & Efrat Selanikyo, University of Ono, Israel

Publication Highlights: Authors of various recent and upcoming publications in OT Practice & CJOT including Lola Halperin, Alison Herman, Wendy Stav, Maya Wolf, Barbara Mazer, Cynthia Perlman, & Pamela Wener will discuss their experiences, publications, post publication responses, and future directions. Their deeply meaningful and important articles about how Judaism, Israel, October 7, and the surrounding responses affected practice, education and the professional environment include:

• Doing, Being, Belonging, and Becoming: An Occupational Response to Trauma
• Shattering Slience, Shattering Unity
• Upholding Pluralism in Occupational Therapy: A Response to Recent Calls for Political Alignment

Moderated Q&A

Closing Remarks: Sam Cox occupational therapist & multi-term OT volunteer in Israel since 2023